Review: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Range

“World, sit up and take notice!”

That’s what Neutrogena seems to be telling us, at the launch of its newest Hydro Boost range. With its attractive aqua blue packaging and bold statement – “Stop moisturizing, start hydrating”, Neutrogena makes beauty fanatics worldwide wonder if they have been doing something wrong all this while.

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Range includes a water based face cleanser, gel cream moisturizer, water gel moisturizer, miscellar water and face cleansing wipes. The launch of the Hydro Boost Range is perfectly timed for winter, when moisturization is on everybody’s mind. With its new innovation claiming advanced hydrating benefits, it is likely to garner a lot of attention, intrigue as well as trials.

Launched with fanfare at a media event at arguably one of the best locations that can ever be – Scape Restaurant at Burj Al Arab, yours truly had the opportunity to have a headstart ahead of others to receive and try the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Range first hand.

Post the event, the product seems to be everywhere – from Task Spotting to Ahlan contests to celebrity and influencer endorsements. Is this range worth the hype?
Read on to know more about this innovative new range and my experience with the products.

Hydro Boost Cleansing Facial Wipes

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Facial Wipes

Product Claim: The Hydro Boost Cleansing Facial Wipes are soft wipes with a cleansing lotion to instantly remove makeup and impurities; even water-proof mascara. The wipes contain a patented cleansing technology combined with Hyaluronic Acid to cleanse effectively while protecting the skin’s natural barrier to help lock hydration.

My experience:

The pleasant smelling Hydro Boost Cleansing Facial Wipes are one of my favorite products from the range. Make-up comes right off with this beauty and you really don’t mind the hydration that comes along with. I did experience a bit of a tingling sensation after use, which is usually the case with the wipes I’ve used (except with Himalaya Purifying Neem Facial wipes), but I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

I’m never fully satisfied with using just wipes to take off make-up as I’m always obsessing if I have any residue left. So I always follow using wipes with micellar water or a good facial cleanser to be doubly sure – and to go to bed with squeaky clean skin and conscience!

Hydro Boost Micellar Water:

Product claim: The Hydro Boost Micellar Water gently removes makeup and impurities while quenching skin with a boost of vital hydration. The Micellar Water contains hyaluronic acid to cleanse effectively while protecting the skin’s barrier to help lock in hydration.

My experience: the Hydro Boost Micellar Water comes in an attractive tall bottle work enough product to lay a few months, so that’s a plus. However when it comes to directions for use as mentioned on the pack, it can be a bit misguiding as it says “Apply on wet face and work into a lather. Rinse thoroughly.”

Well I would understand these directions if they were for a face cleanser, but for this micellar water, I did not experience any such lather no matter how much product I used. I would still go the conventional way of dabbing a good amount on a piece of cotton wool and wiping my face with it, as that seemed to yield better results.

Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser:

Product Claim: The Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser is an innovative light gel that activates with water to lather away dirt oil and make-up while quenching skin with a boost of vital hydration. The cleanser contains a patented cleansing technology combined with hyaluronic acid to cleanse effectively while protecting the skin’s natural barrier to help lock hydration.

The product is suitable for sensitive skin.

My Experience:

Coming down to one of my favorite products of the lot – the Hydro Boost Gel Cleanser is by far one of the best cleansers I have tried!

Most of the face washes and cleansers – even some of the expensive ones, as well as the Deep Clean Gel Wash from Neutrogena – invariably seem to leave my skin tight, slightly itchy, coupled with dryness. Like there is almost an immediate need to moisturize thereafter. Feel me? Then read on…

The Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer is super gentle, lathers rather well – which means that a little quantity goes a long way in washing away grime, dirt and makeup. Besides, after rinsing my face and patting it dry, I did not feel the slightest bit of dryness or itchiness.

My skin felt hydrated on its own and I did not even feel the need to moisturize after patting dry. Like is the case with the other products in the range – there was an unmistakable glow on the face and a remarkable plumpness. Recommended!

Hydro Boost Water Gel and Gel Cream Moisturizers

Product claim: The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer and Gel Cream Moisturizers both quench dry skin and keep it looking smooth, supple and hydrated all day. With innovative continuous release system, both Hydro Boost’s moisturizers instantly lock hydration and progressively release it throughout the day, leaving it hydrated and glowing from within.

Both these moisturizers are oil free and suitable for sensitive skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Gel CreamNeutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

While both products deliver the core benefit of moisturization and employ a smile Hydro Boost technology, below are the points of distinction between the 2.

Water Gel is best suited for dry skin whereas the Gel Cream is suited for very to extremely dry skin.

While the Water Gel moisturizer has a slight fragrance, the Gel Cream is fragrance free.

The Water Gel Moisturizer is translucent and light blue in color whereas the Gel Cream moisturizer has a slightly thicker texture with a whitish color.

Neutrogena Hydro Gel CreamNeutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

My experience: I have used both these products on my skin and am really impressed by how quickly both are absorbed into the skin. The end result is glowing and supple skin. Try smiling and pinching your cheeks after using this product and you will see how the hydration makes an immediate difference.

Since I have a combination skin, I prefer to use the Water Gel moisturizer on my oily T zone, and the Gel Cream on my comparatively dry cheeks.

Let’s talk about about its effects after a few hours.

While the skin appeared fresh and glowing while I was indoors under office air conditioning, my skin felt much more oily after I returned from my 15 minute evening walk. It felt as though the skin was further absorbing moisture from the balmy atmosphere. Maybe it is a good idea to wait until the winter dryness to set in to truly experience the effects of the Hydro Boost moisturizers. That, or due to the fact that the is designed solely for those with dry/extra dry skin – the product felt a bit overwhelming for my combination skin.

Everything said, the plumpness and glow it gives to your skin is unmistakable!

Have any of you with dry to extremely dry skin tried these products? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!